For years, parents and educators have touted university as the only path to “a good life”. Working in the skilled trades is often viewed as menial work and a last resort for students who aren’t smart enough for university or college.
Today, I look at why we need to change that view, and why careers in skilled trades are an excellent choice for all students, regardless of academic ability. Read on for ideas on how parents, educators, governments and employers can attract more young people into the trades.
This post was originally published in April 2021 as “Skilled trades – not just for dummies!” and updated in April 2023.
Choosing the path less travelled
My daughter recently completed a two-year diploma program in the School of Trades and Apprenticeship at our local community college. When she chose this program after high school, it was a bold and unusual move for a young woman with a 90+ average.
Was I disappointed that she chose this option over a university education? Not at all! On the contrary, I applaud her for not following the path everyone expected her to follow, and for being self-aware enough to know that university was not the right choice for her.
Why skilled trades are a great career choice
There are many reasons skilled trades are an excellent career choice for young people. Let’s look at a few of them.
We need skilled workers
Skilled tradespeople build houses, fix cars, style our hair, keep our lights on and water running, and build many of the products we depend on in our everyday life. Think for a minute about what your life would be like without them.
It’s no secret that we’re experiencing an unprecedented labour shortage, and workers in all sectors are retiring in droves. Recent projections indicate that 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire by 2028. (Source: IUOE Local 793)
Shortages and job prospects aside, there are many other reasons to consider a job in the skilled trades.
Skilled workers love their jobs
Do you love your job? Are you happy to go to work every day? If you answered yes to these questions, you’re in the minority.
When my daughter was in high school, I attended a talk by Dr. Jon Callegher of Job Talks. Dr. Callegher shared a well-kept secret. Workers in the skilled trades are some of the happiest workers in Canada. His research showed that just over half of Canadian workers are not happy at work. Many workers feel frustrated, tired and stressed. And this research was done before the pandemic.
Tradespeople, on the other hand, are overwhelmingly satisfied with their jobs.
Other reasons to consider a career in skilled trades
If being in demand and loving your job aren’t enough, Dr. Callegher’s research uncovered these 5 reasons for a career in the trades.
- At a time when many workers report being tired, tradespeople feel alive at work. They are doing active work, using their bodies and their minds. And, they get the satisfaction of seeing the results of their work right away.
- Skilled trades workers enjoy high levels of work-life balance. They work regular hours, and don’t bring their work home with them.
- Tradespeople have skills security. Their skills are transferrable to different companies, locations, provinces and, in some cases, countries.
- At a time when many young people are struggling to pay off high levels of student debt, and often have difficulty finding a job to use their education, an apprenticeship is a chance to earn while you learn. This puts young tradespeople ahead of the game financially.
- Finally, tradespeople feel they are making a difference in the world. They provide valuable services and contribute to their communities.
In addition to these points, I’d add one more.
- With over 140 recognized apprenticeships to choose from in Ontario, there’s something for everyone. Look at the list. I’m sure you’ll see jobs you’ve never heard of.
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So, how do we attract more people into the trades?
Attracting more young people into the trades will require coordinated effort from employers, parents, educators and governments. We must start by changing attitudes and perceptions about this kind of work. This starts at home and in our schools.
Parents
Parents, educate yourself on the career options available to your children. Let go of the myth that university is the only path to success! Be aware of your own biases and the messages you may be sending your kids about different jobs.
When your children are small, give them exposure to people doing different jobs. Teach them that all work has value. The next time you get a haircut, or need to hire a plumber or electrician, explain the important role these workers play in our lives.
When they get to high school, encourage your kids to take a tech class or two. Talk to them about different careers and all options for post-secondary learning—not just the path you followed.
If your child loves problem solving, working with their hands, and enjoys being busy and active, encourage them to explore the trades.
Educators
Educators, talk to all students about trades and apprenticeship, starting in elementary school. Make sure tradespeople are represented at career fairs and in class discussions.
In high school, move away from talking about university, college and apprenticeship as a hierarchy with apprenticeship on the bottom rung of the ladder. Position them as three different options that are valid for students of all academic ability.
In Dr. Callegher’s presentation, he spoke of “Academic Intelligence” and a term I’d never heard before “Balanced Intelligence”.
Educators typically recognize and value academic intelligence because it’s the world they know best and can relate to.
People who are well suited to the trades have balanced intelligence. This means they are smart in a different way. They enjoy hands-on work, practical application and are happiest when using their brain and their body.
Let’s put balanced intelligence on the same playing field as academic intelligence!
Government
Governments need to do more to support and encourage exploration of careers in trades for high school students.
Because of my daughter’s academic achievements, everyone assumed she was on the university path. She was streamed into academic and enriched classes in grade 9. Tech classes were available, but no-one talked to her about them or encouraged her to take them.
In 2020, the Ontario government announced they were ending the streaming of grade 9 students into academic or applied classes. Delaying the requirement to make a decision that could close doors at a young age is a step in the right direction.
More recently, the Ontario government has indicated they will require all high school students to complete a tech credit to graduate. I applaud this change because it will expose our young people to options they might not otherwise consider. They’ll learn something useful, and they may just discover a career they love.
Employers
Parents, educators and governments can’t do this alone. Employers need to shift their mindset and adopt policies to provide a supportive culture for young workers seeking apprenticeships. Despite the labour shortage, it’s not easy for young people to find apprenticeship opportunities with good pay and decent working conditions.
A good place to start is for employers to work in partnership with high schools and colleges to provide meaningful co-op and work placement opportunities. Employers also need to do more to remove barriers for apprentices and support them in their journey to be qualified.
Finally, hiring practices and workplace cultures need to change to attract and retain employees from underrepresented groups like women and Indigenous people. These groups are an untapped pipeline of talent.
With high levels of stress, crippling student debt, and many young people feeling lost and dissatisfied with their education and career choices, it’s time for change.
Why consider a career in the skilled trades? I say “Why not!”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Join the conversation below.
Great post, Michelle. I may be heading back out into the workplace if my life partner ever retires, and I will certainly keep this in mind! 🌞
Thanks Lisa. I often think I would have done a trade if it had been an option for me. Mind you, I have very little skill in math or science so it might not have gone very well.
I LOVED this post, Michelle!!! I had never heard of balanced intelligence (a term I instantly loved) but for many years, I taught parents about Howard Gardener’s ‘multiple intelligences’, which postulates that ‘academic’ smarts are but a small piece of a much larger pie. If you have ever watched someone take an engine apart (or build one from scratch), you know that academic smarts are not the only kind of ‘smart’. I have always maintained that academic studies are highly overrated but I never said it as eloquently as you have here. I hope more provinces follow Ontario’s lead in incorporating tech credits into the academic curriculum. I wish they had had that option when I was a kid. And KUDOS to your amazing daughter for going against the grain! You must be so proud of her…🙂💕🙏
Thank you Patti! Yes, we are very proud of our daughter, especially considering she’s the only female graduating from her program. She’s a trailblazer.
The whole idea of balanced intelligence is fascinating. I am in awe of people with the technical aptitude and curiosity to fix things and make things work better. I wouldn’t even know where to start.
When I see the work my daughter has been doing in her college program, it makes me want to go back and start my career over. In my day, girls took home-ec. Shop class was for boys. I’m glad to see things changing, albeit not fast enough.
I well remember the separated classes of home-Ec and shop. I HATED home-Ec and I was so envious when the boys would come back from THEIR classes with a lamp or a treasure chest that they had made. I DID get a pretty dress out of the deal that I sewed myself. It fell apart after the first wash 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🙄
Ha ha. I think I made a hideous top that looked more like a tent. 😂
Mine was a tent dress 🤣
🤣🤣
Yes, I totally agree. This is such a great post. Skilled trades require skills.
Exactly! And fairly technical skills that aren’t very easy to learn!
Such a great post, Michelle! Huge congratulations to Colleen! It is so wise for young women to consider a trade if the University path is not something they want to do.
Thanks Cher. Trades are such a great option for all young people to consider.
Great post! I remember when I was in school, trades were thought to be for people who weren’t smart enough for University or immigrants with a language barrier. I thought it was ridiculous then and I still do. These are hard jobs that take a lot of skill, not to mention these are the men and women that keep everything going. My son recently told me he thinks being a plumber is cool and I agree. Thanks for sharing this!
Right! That’s exactly how I feel Tiffany. It is skilled work that pays well with job security and high levels of job satisfaction. What’s not to love? Yet so many people look down on these people – until they need something fixed and then they see the value. LOL
The daughter of a good friend of ours is apprenticing to be a plumber. I think she inspired my daughter to consider the trades. It’s nice to see more young women following this path.
I love all the points you’ve made in favour of skilled trades, they are spot on. University education is all well and good but if you can’t use your degree to earn a living, what’s the value? Far better to learn a skill that’s always in demand.
Exactly! If you want to go into a specific profession, then university makes sense. But, spending 4 years at university doing an arts degree while you find your path, and ending up in debt and unemployed sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
I am a huge promoter of the apprenticeship. I think it is such a great way for people to learn. I have even considered a change of career for myself now I am approaching my 40’s. I would not be adverse to an apprenticeship.
Learning a trade will always hold value, some of my most successful business pals work in valuable trades.
Brilliant post x
Thanks Claire. I said just the other day that if I was starting over again, I would probably choose an apprenticeship. When I was starting out, it was EXTREMELY rare to see women working in the trades. I am glad to see that has changed.
I loved this, such an enjoyable and motivating read! I really admire anyone who takes the time to learn a trade, I think it’s definitely undervalued and tradespeople essentially keep the world turning. Your point on job satisfaction is interesting too!
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Thanks Anika. Yes, the job satisfaction data is very interesting. Although, when I think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Especially the work-life balance piece. Unlike most corporate jobs, you can’t bring your trade work home with you at night.
I ran a chemical complex with hundreds of skilled trades workers. This was over five years ago and a good number made six figures without a college degree and had interesting work they enjoyed. On the other hand as a chemical engineer and corporate officer I also made a nice income. I think either route can be a great choice, many of the trades workers had lucrative side businesses as well which I could not do in my position.
I agree. Either route is a good option. It really comes down to the individual and how they learn and how they like to work.
Awesome post, Michelle. It is worth highlighting the importance of skilled trades. Nobody should shy away from it because of the stereotype since there is a lot of value in it.
Thanks guys. There is a lot of value in this work. I am reminded of that every time I need to hire a plumber or electrician.
Omg, yes!
I’ll admit I’m all for university degrees before choosing a different path specifically because it opens doors. It’s so much easier to get out of the corporate world than to get into it.
However, my view is that of someone who didn’t have to take out a loan for the degree, nor did I know what I actually wanted to do in the long run.
You’ve made such a valid suggestion by having such a credit be mandatory in school, so that way if someone chooses either path, they are basing it on something valid. We weren’t all meant to be doctors!
Maybe, as long as university is an environment that you can thrive in. That isn’t the case for everyone.
I just think we need to get away from the view that university is the default path and other choices have less value. The high cost of university combined with the high cost of housing means very few people have the luxury of spending 4 years getting a degree while they figure out their path. I hear so many stories of people in debt from a university degree with no hard skills and no prospect of a decent job to pay off that debt.
Ultimately, the path you choose when you’re 18 isn’t forever. University will always be an option later.
I’ve always said that if our boys want to do apprenticeships, so much the better. No student debt, preparation for life, learning to budget while still at home probably, practical skills and potential independence from large corporations. Love it!
I agree! And the high rate of job satisfaction and work-life balance are the icing on top!
Thanks Michelle, fantastic article! 19 years ago I left Sunlife to help manage my husband’s concrete construction company. At that time it was much easier to find employees, now it’s nearly impossible to find anyone willing to work. We are a small family run company that provides excellent workmanship, but it’s just so difficult to attract talent. Concrete especially needs government help as there are no apprenticeship programs for it. Thanks again for writing this.
Thanks Tracy! It’s a shame there’s such a stigma against any kind of manual or physical work. I found the stats on work-life balance and being happy at work especially interesting.
This is a great post with great tips for parents and educators! So many people are unhappy with their jobs simply because they followed the path they were expected to take without considering all of their options. We all need to do a better job of showing the future generations the variety of options, as well as stress how each job is important.
I agree Suzanne. I’ve always maintained that all work has value. It’s a shame we stream students into a specific direction at such a young age. It’s hard for them to go against the grain. Things are changing but a mindset shift by students, parents, educators and government is needed before we’ll see real change.
This is a fantastic article Michelle… one of your best yet! We need tradespeople so badly and there are opportunities for everyone. My son Matthew is a Millwright and we are so proud of him! Best wishes to Colleen as she has a very bright future ahead!
Thanks Erica. I am really proud of Colleen for charting her own path and not following the crowd. We need more Matthews and Colleens in the world!